New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-03-13
EONNEH on BEECHER.
A CLOSE FRIEND, HIP FOR MANY YEARS


/ SOME OF iii PRE- ACHrR's CHAEAC TrR1oTiC LETTERS
AND SAYINGS.
OF the hundreds OF IN all walks oi lite whom
Mr. Bcechor called hs friends thc'e were probably
few ia whom he placed greater trust or 70 whom ho
impaired more OF his confidence than Robert Bonner.
For nearly twenty years the two were intimate Week
after week for sixteen years NJ. Boechcrs coutri0u-
tons were leading features OF The Ledger
In all my intercourse with men, sid VI. Bonner.
| =. never mot man like Henry Ward BcccLer. and
never expect TO again. Ho was sui gcneri4 and a
genius If over there WIS one In losing him the world
lu.rs q who" individuality and pcreonnl M
luencc have scarcely ever been "qualod Il trend
ne VIA generous noble hearted aud self sa'rihcnI.
and be WA always doing or saying something TO make
INN the IL ore admired and beloved %, his ir,nds.'
The acquaintance OF VI. Bonner aud Mr. Bccoher
whica aitcrward ripcned into warm friendship was
brought about through letter sent In NoN,lnber
1893. by the preacher 70 Mr. Bcnner. calling his
attention to - story in manuscript written by young
lady and requesting the publisher 10 rcac Z. ana Il he
deemed IL good enough, to PRINT ~ III luc Ledger.
Mr. Bonner replied that lac did not nr the Young
LADY,. chor.s but that lie would like nunirer Mr..
Reccher among hi, contributors and enclosed good
sized check a. earnest OF his disposition TO pay
LITERAL, tor anything from the preachers pen. cut
of this grew q arrangement by which MIR boecLcr
becuma regular weekly contributor ~ -" Tho
Ledger's' columns, beginning in JANUARY 500, ANA
continuing with tow interruptions until 1914. inc
first article contributed by the already famous
preacher WAS OF series which he called
Thoughts they Occur by one who keeps his Eyes
and Lars Open" and was entitled 4 Cannon Ball in
the Hat and Is pointed to by Mr.. Bonner 9s ~.
excellent ramplc his tree of hand simple and yet
II wrsIn fs05 thar Mr. Bonner suggested 10 ile
Plymouth pastor that he write novel. II required
little urging to get him to consent 10 ths, hut It was
quito another thing 10 get the manuscript or any
evidence that Mr.. Becchcr Intended to carry out hs
agreement He was naturally diatory aud would
ONLY rrife when driven 20 10 by his vile a. publisher.
Alter waiting ncArly tro years the first instalment
OF Norwood" which was tho only novel ever written
.kar al in Nv HOnnaria
and wac printed III ts07. For this story Mr..
De.chcr received $50 0O0 transferring al his right,
title and ineres in II TO Mr. homer tor mat sum,
Tho latter ate, running II sorisliy IN The Ledger
published It in book torn and realized clear proat OF
$40 900 from it's sale.
On January 3. 1860. in response 20 numerous
inquiries i.om Mr. Bonner Ia the progrese he was
making with the novel, Mr. Beocher scnt him this
sketch
Ny DEAR Mr. BOWER know That yCg have 3D,n good SoS
kindy inqdlro and VII give you .ome Insight lnto
could have written sketchy and superficial story
with perhaps few weeks EFFORT but ne more 70.
nected Tho leSs liked 10 no So i1o worry 'Gp s's
nerey story nut. If could. one that wou!d 10 u. good
this IL was enough That should have 1sissre on,
that / should get my mind onL OF the re" o. public
traned o "A very different line OF thought.
Ipropusu to make story which shall turn, not so
carry thr story handsomely AS on certain MeIa! or
ow@rd questions propS,e t. acilIe"te . nigga ana
brought excessive diHtrsss by specrlaons and new
views This feel quite competent TO manage.
The heroine Ia 10 I've large oi sot chlld or nature.
and al nougn n Christian, yet In chldhk sympathy
wi.h the truths Of Tod IN tho autumn world. instead OF
Iuese two tho man Of philosophy and theology and
the woman Of nature and smpo TRUTH 10 act UPON
ether and sb" Is to triunph.
lropo'e Introducing Full company 81 various New
England characters TO give real vlsw OF the inside OF
New England town. IT'S brewing Thought lts inventive.
ness. Ia lndnsuy and entsIpr"s. Il. education ana
shrewdness and tact. purpose 10 Introduce South
ernsr OF rather nooie Tyre and show him on fsnts anu
virtues, this background or Now England ana may
transfer the story IN t close tho seat OF war ana IN
troduoe ono of ts campsisns But IL may SO grow on
my hands that shall leave that for sepsrate snort
ain convinced that have been wise In waiting land that
snail DO far likely to succeed than should have
done II had plunged at once into tho matter without
study and meditation. IA
soundsuee W ave y0u Nss before Nay next Has ~